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Updated: Aug 22, 2026
Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
Methyl p-coumarate, a melanin formation inhibitor in B16 mouse melanoma cells
Isao Kubo1, Ken-ichi Nihei, Kazuo Tsujimoto
1Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3112, USA. ikubo@uclink.berkeley.edu
Abstract:
p-Coumaric acid (4-hydroxycinnamic acid) and methyl p-coumarate (methyl 4-hydroxycinnamate) inhibit the oxidation of L-tyrosine catalyzed by mushroom tyrosinase. However, both were oxidized as monophenol substrate analogues at an extremely slow rate. This oxidation was significantly accelerated as soon as catalytic amounts (0.01 mM) of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) became available as a co-factor. Methyl p-coumarate significantly suppressed the melanin formation in B16 mouse melanoma cells, whereas p-coumaric acid did not show this activity.
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